In a hell of a mess (Tramadol)

[jekorb]

I have written other posts regarding my battle with Trams.  After going thru w/d with Tylenol #3 in Spring of '07, I was clean and happy until Dec. '07, when my mother died.  MD gave me Tramadol for colitis pain and wanted to check my script.  Husband mentioned I could get them off the Internet, which I stupidly did in Jan. '08.  I've taken these "things" ever since, and could just kill myself for it.  I've made plans to w/d for last last 6 months but courage fails.  Then, two days ago, my husband had to rush me to ER due to massive chest, back and upper ab pain.  They shot me up with morphine, gave me nitroglycerin and baby aspirin (thought it was a heart attack) and ran tests, including an ultrasound.  I confessed all to the wonderful young MD who took care of me.  He said my liver enzymes were slightly raised, but the trams had nothing to do with it~~~it turns out I almost assuredly have stones in my liver.  They gave me oxycodone to take home and I have an appt. w/ a gastric specialists next Mon., to whom I will have to tell of my addiction, too.  So, now I will probably face a surgery.  I am against a wall---should I try and quit Trams now, or not?  I took a dose at 6 p.m. last night and was hurting badly (mostly stomach pain) this a.m., so took 3 Trams and 1/2 a Vicodin just to get past that hell.  I know I will suffer terribly from this withdrawal, but I can't do it today, as I'll still be sick when I have to see the specialist on Mon.  I may have to cancel a trip to NY to see my father at the beginning of July, if I have to have surgery or the MD tells me to get off Trams--immediately.  I'll be in no shape to go.  I've been thru a few w/ds in the past (usually getting off pain meds after a surgery) and it's been bad, but I'm in my mid-50s now.  Just the stomach agony this a.m. was so awful and I wasn't really "into" any kind of w/d yet!!  Thank you all so much for letting me write, and for posting your own predicaments.  I look at people around me and on TV and think, 'THEY aren't on drugs!  Why am I?  Why am I so freaking WEAK and pathetic?'  I don't want to check out of this life---I have five grown children and 6 grands and a sympathetic, caring husband.  I said to him the other day how I wished to God he hadn't mentioned getting the Trams off the Internet and he said, "Well, you didn't HAVE to get them, did you?" and I know he's right.  But he's very attentive and sympathetic.  He has his own addiction---heavy smoking.  So, I'm going to google NAs in my area, and get some help.  Thanks, everyone, and God bless you.

[123456m]

Good for you because the wds comming offf Trams are worse than pure opiates when you are taking a lot of them.Its a *** up drug than can kill you by stopping your breathing even at not that high of doses.
Peace

[123456m]

Well I was not in the US I was in Panama. The medical care in Panama is 1st class and much cheaper. I spent around $2000 for a ten day stay. The actual patient care in Panama far far surpasses the US the docs spend time with you, they give you there own cell number to call if you need to. Its amazing on how expensive and bad the care is in the US. Now I was living in Panama during this time I did not make a trip down because of this but if you want to Pm me and I will give you sme contacts down there. The doctors are very well trained a lot of them trained in the US.. The other thing is there none of this god ego **** with the docs down in Panama you tell them more or less what you want and they do it for you. They did several Cardio tests, full blood panel and even though my liver was ok they did a ultrasound of the liver.

They treat you so nice they knew I smoked so the guard kept ulocking the fire door at night so I could have a smoke and the food is good and you can also have friends bring you in food and stuff. In  Panama health of the patient is treated from a professional friendship base with your doctors and nurses they really care a lot about you
You can get off the trams but you must tapering see if you can get a part time nurse to come in and put you on Ivs for a while you can switch the bags yourself. As far as what goes in the IVs it dependsbut mostly its just water with some salts etc and maybe a little valium squezze in at night.
The Ivs help out so much .
Peace

[jekorb]

Thank you everybody; I'm so frightened my hands are shaking as I write this. To 123456m~~~how did you manage that long of a time in the hospital?  Did your insurance pay for it?  I can't imagine that ours would.  What is/are "lvs"?  I'm afraid I'm going to be one of those people who can't taper; the stomach pain/anxiety will be too awful.  I did c/d from these 10 years ago and managed, but then, I was 10 years younger.  I may have to take a leap and pray that I have no seizures.  To add insult to injury, I may have to have a liver exploratory done for liver duct stones in July!  I have to have an upper endoscopy procedure on 6/29. Should I start w/d this weekend?  I intend to go to a local NA meeting Mon. night; of course, if I'm w/ding, I can't, but I am almost too terrified to think of it.  I take 8-9 50 mg. a day, and an oxycodone if I feel an "attack" from the liver stones coming on (spent Tues. night in ER for crushing chest pain).  I'm just crazy with fear right now!!

[NautyOne]

I don't have any experience with Tramadol, but from what I have read....it seems doctors are still claiming it is non-narcotic?  I was just reading a site about euthanasia and the Vets classify it as an "opiate" they prescribe it to animals for pain.  That really pi$$es me off.  I was prescribed it years ago, but it did nothing for me.  I am glad I did not continue to take if for more than a few days, as I hear the withdrawals can be worse than Vics, percs, and even codeine.

I do feel for you, and I hope everything is okay with you.  You kinda know your ready to quit when you start looking at the world around you and wanting to be like "everyone else"  I went through that myself, looking at everyone who was "happy" while I was living for "the chase"  when I got to that point........I quit and don't look back, don't want to look back to that life........

I do wish you well, and do taper after you see the specialist.  If you can get your loving husband to hold your pills and distribute them accordingly, you will be fine, but it won't be fun, for sure.

God Bless.

Luv,
Nauty......................

[123456m]

I was taking 20 100 mg of trams per day for 7 months straight and I quit and got clean off them in one week. This is how I did it I admited my self to a hospital and got on Ivs which flushes a lot out of your system quick first day took 10 not at once but 2 5 times a day, next day took 8 at 2 4 times a day next day took 6 at 2 3 times a day day 4 I stayed with 6 day 5 went down to 4 day 6 2 and day 7 none.
I spent the next 3 days with mild wds never had a seizure once, Was given some benzeos to help along with some Chondline. At day 11 first day out of the hospital I felt really pretty good so it can be done. Oh also got a good SSRI that I started taking on day 3 in the hospital.
Peace

[worried878]

what is ur dose?   tapering is often needed with trams depending on dose and length of use..just like benzos..narcs/true narcs u can stop ct and be ok...tram has alot of anti-depressant qualities that make it a real btch to wd from...narcotic like as it also affects te miu receptors like narcotics..so it is 2 different aspects to wd from...but do-able...and people do it all the time..good to ask ur dr for help if u can...he can give u safe drugs to help with the wd....keep posting and be safe

[hopinforhappy]

I just can't help but comment.  I am so sorry, this I am sure is a very scarry thing.  I have WD off trams and it is the hardest thing I have done.  I am sure you will hear this a lot but you can't go CT off trams, it will cause major problems including seizure.  You need to start to taper off them.  It is time.  There is always a reason why not to.  I understand at this point you are in the throws of addiction but one of the best things you can do for yourself is admit that this is YOUR problem.  I understand how scarred and angry you are and that it will take a long time to get to a point where you can look back, totally clean, and take responsibility.  I find once you get rid of the, "the doctors shouldn't have given it to me, my husband shouldn't have enabled me, someone should have stopped me"  you can truly begin to heal.  Keep up the good work, fight the fight and win.  You have my thoughts and prayers.....

[Okca]

OMGosh! I was worried that I hadn't heard from you! I"m thankful you are okay!!! I have those sharp pains in my stomach also, and in my chest and upper back all the time. that really scares me what I just read about you. It is so hard to breath sometimes! What a mess we have gotten ourselves into.  Please let me know what happens at the doctor, and thank you for posting!!!